Udupi Tiffin Sambar

Udipi tiffin sambar is a traditional South Indian dish that is typically served with tiffin items like idli, dosa, vada, or upma. It is a flavorful and spicy lentil-based curry made with a variety of vegetables and spices. The key ingredients in Udipi tiffin sambar include toor dal (pigeon peas), tamarind, sambar powder, and a special tempering of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chilies. It is a delicious and nutritious dish that is popular in Udipi, a town in the state of Karnataka, India.

This Udupi-style Tiffin Sambar, crafted with freshly ground spices, resembles the Sambar served in Udupi hotels alongside Idli, Dosai, and Vadai.

Udupi Tiffin Sambar

Recipe by S Kamala
Course: KuzhambuCuisine: Indian, UdipiDifficulty: Medium
Servings

5

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes

This Udupi-style Tiffin Sambar, crafted with freshly ground spices, resembles the Sambar served in Udupi hotels alongside Idli, Dosai, and Vadai.

Ingredients

  • Thuvar Dal – ¼ cup

  • Tamarind – A big gooseberry size

  • Turmeric Powder – ¼ teaspoon

  • Sambar Onion – 10 to 15

  • Tomato (small size) – 1

  • Brinjal (small size) – 1

  • Potato (small size) – 1

  • Carrot (small size) – 1

  • Jaggery powdered – 1 teaspoon

  • To fry and grind:
  • Red Chillies (medium size) – 3 to 4

  • Coriander seeds – 1 tablespoon

  • Urad Dhal – 1 teaspoon

  • Fenugreek seeds – ¼ teaspoon

  • Curry leaves – few

  • Coconut gratings – 2 tablespoons

  • For Seasoning:
  • Oil – 1 tablespoon

  • Mustard – ½ teaspoon

  • Urad dhal – 1 teaspoon

  • Asafoetida Powder – 2 pinches

  • Salt – 1 teaspoon or as per taste

Directions

  • Clean the thuvar dal and add a cup of water, along with a pinch of turmeric powder, then pressure cook until soft.
  • In a small kadai, heat one or two teaspoons of oil and sequentially add urad dal, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, and red chillies, frying until they turn light brown. Follow with curry leaves, frying for a second, then add coconut gratings and fry until they turn light brown and emit a pleasant aroma. Remove from heat and let cool. Grind all the fried ingredients to a fine paste.
  • Chop the tomato, carrot, brinjal, and potato into small pieces.
  • Soak tamarind in water to extract the juice.
  • In a kadai, heat a teaspoon of oil and add mustard seeds. Once they pop, add urad dal and asafoetida, followed by the onion and chopped vegetables, frying briefly. Add a little water to just cover the vegetables and cook until soft.
  • Next, add the tamarind extract, a pinch of turmeric powder, and salt. Stir well and boil until the raw smell of tamarind vanishes.
  • Add the ground paste and cooked dal, mixing thoroughly.
  • Finally, incorporate jaggery and, if necessary, a little water, and allow to boil for a few more minutes.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Yellow pumpkin and drumstick can also be added to this sambar.
  • You can prepare this sambar without onion also to get “No Onion” sambar.

20 Comments

  1. pallavi prasad

    dear aunty thank u for the recipe

  2. today i got the chance to make udupi sambar and pudalankai varuval,both came super and it was a hit

  3. Thank you kamalaji for the recipe.I will try more.I am 80 years old.

    • Dear Jayalakshmy Amma,

      It is a great pleasure to get a comment from a senior like you. Thank you very much for visiting our site and taking time to write to us.

  4. revathymuthu

    Hi, i tried your Udipi sambar, it was really tasty. My family also enjoyed it

  5. hi aunty sambar came out well.yesterday i tried and got appreciation.thank u

  6. hi aunty i want know about tamarind rice which is prepared temple pls

  7. Hello Kamala ji,
    I have recently come across your site & absolutely love the variety you have posted. I am a maharashtrian, so don’t know the authentic way of South Indian cooking. Your recipes look really good & tempting to try. Have a q on this sambar recipe. For the masala powder, is it fresh coconut or dry grated coconut is ok too?
    Thanks,
    Seema

    • Thank you Seema for visiting my site. Normally when you use fresh coconut, the milk in the coconut will give extra taste to the dish. However, you can also use dry coconut.

  8. nice recipe mam. i need your help mam. i want to do turmarind rice like temple taste. i cant get it. can you help me.

  9. ULTIMATE RECEIPES

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